Tateshina-yama Day Hike (25Jul2011)

Mt. Tateshina Hike — Mt. Tateshina (Tateshina-yama, 蓼科山): 2,530 meters, Nagano prefecture

Hiking

I planned a trip for 3 days and 2 nights to hike 3 mountains, i.e. Utsukushigahara, Kirigamine and Tateshina-yama. The third mountain of the trip was Tateshina-yama. I chose the shortest and easiest route for my daughter. Was it easy for 3-year-old girl…?

Words of cheer

We wanted to start early morning but the inn we stayed did not prepare it faster for us. According to the guide book, walking time to the peak is 1 hour and 40 minutes. I estimated 2 hours and half or 3 hours walk to the peak because my daughter was just a little girl. It was a start of a long hike…

a path to Mt. Tateshina — It started on a gentle slope among trees.

“I feel like a rest.”
Soon after we started walking, my daughter told me.
Though yesterday’s hike was easy to walk, she should be tired to hike two mountains.
“Let’s turn back.” I said to her but she replied “No! I want to climb this mountain.”
“You’ve got a lot of guts.”

We saw a lake. — We saw a lake (Lake Megami, probably) when we looked back on the way to Shogun-daira.

On the way to Shogun-daira, my daughter required to take rests again and again, but she never gave up.

An old couple we met on the path gave her a box of chocolates and they cheered her up. She looked forward to eating one piece when we took a rest.

My daughter was on a break. — My daughter was on a break at Shogun-daira.

The path from Shogun-daira becomes rocky and steeper.
“This is so much fun!” My daughter looked enjoying the rocky part of the route. She clambered over rocks one-by-one. She looked like playing athletic playground equipment. It was not equipment but rocks that were as big and her body size. My head was full with how we could make her go down the mountain in safety.

clambering over rocks — Rocks were as big and my daughter’s body size.

the peak is almost there — Having a break on the rocks

On the way to the peak, a group of children caught up with and overtook us. There were 15 to 20 children. They were fifth grade elementary students, I heard.
“You are 3 years old? Sure?” “Cool!” “Keep at it!” “Almost there.” When they passed us, they encouraged my duaghter.
My daughter looked pleased with having encouraging words.

arrived the peak of Tateshina-yama — We finally arrived at the peak of Tateshina-yama. It took almost 3 hours from the trailhead.

foggy... — We could not see the scenery from the peak due to fog.

When we arrived the peak, they were there, the old couple, children, and other hikers. Although we could not see the scenery we expected but we heard a yell of delight. My daughter looked relieved to hear that.

At 7th station (trailhead) — My daughter was still full of energy.

It took almost 3 hours to go down the mountain. It took time to go down my daughter on the rocky part of the route (It was so hard for both my wife and myself). After this 6-hour hike, we moved to Tateshina Farm to spend time with animals. Surprisingly, she was running at the farm! My daughter was still full of energy…

Route & Time

Hike date: July 25, 2011
Members: Family (farther, mother and 3-year-old daughter)
Course time:
8:48 7th station – 10:35 Shogun-daira – 11:40 Tateshina-yama 12:15 – 13:10 Shogun-daira 13:36 – 15:03 7th station [6 hour and 15 minutes]